Use of one LED to represent various utility rates and system status by varying frequency and/or duty cycle of LED

Abstract

A demand supply management system for an appliance receives information related to cost of energy use and communicates data to the associated appliance in response thereto. A single chip, light emitting diode (LED) device is preferably associated with a module or portion of the home appliance. The LED device conveys information relating to at least two of cost of energy use, signal strength, and module status. The LED device is preferably a single chip, single color solid-state LED device that is selectively actuated between “illuminated” and “non-illuminated” states, steady on, slow flash, fast flash, varying duration, intermittent “illuminated” and “non-illuminated”, etc. to convey information to the user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]The present disclosure relates to a module connected to a home appliance that provides a simple structure and manner of indicating at least two items of information, for example, at least two of network status, signal strength, and / or energy rate / level. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a low power indicator, preferably a single chip light emitting diode or LED device, that switches between the different items of information or modes, one of the modes being a default mode.[0002]A recent development in the area of home appliances is to provide appliances that respond to demand supply management (DSM) signals from utilities for example to affect a possible load shedding event in the appliances. One approach is to employ a module operatively connected to the appliance that receives the signal from a utility, home energy manager, or other source that indicates a demand for the particular utility (electricity, gas, water, etc.). When demand is...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a system and method for displaying information about the cost of energy use and signal strength of an appliance. This is done through a low power indicator, such as a single LED device, that is associated with the appliance. The LED device can be actuated in response to different data received from a module, and can display information in a variety of ways, such as a steady illuminated state, a slow FLASH state, or a fast FLASH state. The LED device can be mounted on the external surface of the appliance or module. The system is simple, small, low cost, and low power consumption, with no loss of functionality. The technical effects of the patent include the ability to display real-time information about energy use and signal strength, and to provide a convenient and low-cost means of communication for the associated appliance.

Problems solved by technology

When demand is high, a corresponding cost of using the utility is high and a user is apprised of the increased utility rate.

Although such a complex user interface associated with each home appliance may be informative, it adds to the complexity and cost of an individual home appliance and the demand supply management system.

Still another problem is how to conserve energy associated with the module, individual home appliance, or demand supply management system.

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